Soho Rep Presents U.S. Premiere of BORN BAD, 4/17

Soho Rep presents the highly anticipated U.S. Premiere of debbie tucker green's landmark play BORN BAD Winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer. Featuring a powerhouse cast that includes: Crystal A. Dickinson (RUINED, CLYBOURNE PARK), Heather Alicia Simms (GEM OF THE OCEAN, A RAISIN IN THE SUN), LeRoy McClain (CYMBELINE, THE HISTORY BOYS), Quincy Tyler Bernstine (RUINED, IN THE NEXT ROOM), Michael Rogers (JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE, BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE), and Elaine R. Graham (Julie Taymor's "Across the Universe," PLAYBOY OF THE WEST INDIES)

Following its critically acclaimed and sold-out production of Jomama Jones' RADIATE this past January, Off-Broadway's eleven-time Obie Award-winning Soho Rep - which the New York Times calls the "downtown powerhouse" - will conclude its 2010-2011 season with the U.S. premiere of debbie tucker green's landmark play BORN BAD directed by Leah C. Gardiner and featuring an ensemble cast, which includes Obie Award-winner Quincy Tyler Bernstine (RUINED), Heather Alicia Simms (Broadway's GEM OF THE OCEAN), Crystal A. Dickinson (CLYBOURNE PARK), etc. with previews beginning March 31, 2011 prior to an official press opening of April 7 - at Soho Rep (46 Walker Street).

Just as Soho Rep has done with producing the debuts of theatre artists such as: Jomama Jones, Nature Theater of Oklahoma, Dan LeFranc, Young Jean Lee, and Sarah Kane's BLASTED in 2008, the company now presents the US premiere of the acclaimed British play BORN BAD, and gives voice - for the first time in the US - to its playwright debbie tucker green.

In debbie tucker green's Olivier Award winning play BORN BAD, "Dawta says it's the truth, but other family members remember differently." At once epic and domestic, laced with humor and told with inventive form, tucker green's explosive drama follows one family trying to make sense of their past.

"I am thrilled to be able to share debbie tucker green's extraordinary, urgent work with New York audiences, and that Soho Rep is producing her long-awaited premiere with BORN BAD," said Soho Rep Artistic Director Sarah Benson. " I was compelled from the first time I read the play-- tackling thorny family and social issues with inventive form & dark humor -- and am delighted that we have such a phenomenal cast and director to bring to life green's remarkable words."

When it debuted at The Hampstead Theatre in London in 2003, The Telegraph called BORN BAD "a dynamite-blast," The Guardian called BORN BAD "exquisitely torturous...[it] displays Green's ability to bend language," and The Independent said that "Tucker Green's work is already making its mark."

Directed by Leah C. Gardiner, the cast of BORN BAD features Crystal A. Dickinson (RUINED, CLYBOURNE PARK), Heather Alicia Simms (GEM OF THE OCEAN, A RAISIN IN THE SUN), LeRoy McClain (CYMBELINE, THE HISTORY BOYS), Obie Award-winner Quincy Tyler Bernstine (RUINED, IN THE NEXT ROOM), Michael Rogers (JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE, BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE), and Elaine R. Graham (Julie Taymor's "Across the Universe," PLAYBOY OF THE WEST INDIES).

Design team for BORN BAD is Michael Chybowski (Lighting Designer), Mimi Lien (Set Designer), and Paul Tazewell (Costume Designer).

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